Wednesday 24 May 2017

Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria protest in Kebbi against planned importation of foreign Rice into the country


Members of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) have held a protest rally in Birnin Kebbi against planned importation of foreign Rice into the country.
​The protestants who carried paddy stalks and placards with inscription such as “PMB and Ag. President Osinbajo save Nigeria Rice Farmers” matched to the Government House Birnin Kebbi.
they were received by Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu and Deputy Governor, Rtd. Col. Sama’ila Yombe Dabai.
The chairman of the association Alhaji Muhammadu Sahabi Augie presented a letter of their grievance to the Governor for onward submission to the Ag. President of the Federation.
In a speech, Alhaji Muhammadu Sahabi Augie ascertain that, the importation of Rice would not only be inimical to Federal Government’s policy of Agricultural revival, but also destroyed the nation quest for self reliance in Rice production.
He said there was abandoned of Rice not only Kebbi State but also in the whole Nation and expressed concerned that unpatriotic Nigerians were conniving with foreign element to bring in expired rice that could be harmful to the health of the citizenry.

The RIFAN chairman urged Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu in his capacity as the Chairman Presidential Task Force on Rice and Wheat production in Nigeria to use his influence to stop such unnecessary propose importation.
Another speaker who is an executive member of RIFAN, Alhaji Umar Dodo Aliero made its clear that, Kebbi State alone has five hundred thousand hectares of arable fadama land suitable for the cultivation of rice, throughout the season and it will be a waste of foreign resources for the federal government to allow the importation of foreign rice.
Likewise, another executive member Salihu Ruwa Augie conquers that, the proponent of rice importation were unpatriotic Nigerians, who not be allow to actualize their plan.
A big time farmer and leader of APC elders committee, Alhaji Sani Zauro Hukuma (Zannan Gwandu) said rice farmers might be force to employ pro-active measures to safeguard local rice protection by apprehending any vehicle caught with foreign rice and closing shops which have foreign rice in stock.
Two females rice farmers, Balkisu Muhammad Geza in Dandi Local Government and Safiya Marafa consented that Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu has led the desired agricultural revolution in the country by encouraging rice and wheat production which have double within the last two years.
They warned that allowing the importation of rice would not only jourpadise local rice production but also would bring back poverty among Nigerian.
Also addressing the gathering, the commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Garba Muhammad Dandiga acknowledge that the problems rice farmer will face would be enormous if Nigeria reverted to rice importation.
Alhaji Garba Dandiga made its clear that the success so far recorded in Agriculture production would be reversed and urged Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu who has been in the vanguard of Agricultural revival should help to stop the plan importation of foreign rice.
Welcoming, RIFAN members to the Government House, Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu said it’s was within their fundamental right to stage a peaceful protest to highlight what could be injuries to their wellbeing and the economic prosperity of the society in their capacity as farmers.
The Governor described President Muhammadu Buhari as the leader of Rice Farming in Nigeria as President was the first to launch the revival of rice cultivation at the Anchor Borrowers Programme in Kebbi in 2015.
Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu who prayed for good health of President Muhammadu Buhari and God’s wisdom to Ag. President Yemi Osinbajo gave an assurance of delivering their message to the authority concern.
Senator Atiku Bagudu who addressed the RIFAN members in his capacity as the Governor and the Chairman Presidential Taskforce on Rice and Wheat production agreed that the country will be at loss if foreign rice was allowed to be imported into the country.
He said many people would go back to unemployment while local rice production would collapse with disasters consequences for the country.
He gave an assurance of doing everything necessary to stop such plan importation, Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu use the opportunity to announce that the Federal Government would advance another Agricultural loan to 140,000 farmers from Kebbi State but the process of disbursement would be finalized after the payment of previous loans advanced to farmers.
He commended rice farmers in the state for promoting the name of Kebbi to National and International Arena, which culminated to the joint production of quality LAKE-RICE.
Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu said already Lagos state has ordered for 50,000 bags of LAKE-RICE from Kebbi for the Ramadan and El-el-Fitr festivals.
The Governor added that rice produce in Kebbi are already being exported to Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Europe.
He pledged to look into the issue of Water Supply for watering rice fields and reaffirmed the commitment of his administration to making fertilizer available to all nooks and crannies of the state of a reduce price of not more than 5,500 naira.
The Governor announced that the state government has begun to take the delivery of fifty tractors while others are on the way, saying that, rice threshing machines and power tillers were already on ground which will be distributed after the full ordered to agricultural implement and machinery have been received.
Office of the SSA New Media
Kebbi State












Feel Free To Comments Here...

No comments:

Post a Comment